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Get Ready for Your U-Guide Hunt, Can Your Dog Mark?
By: Mark Staloch
UGUIDE South Dakota Pheasant Hunting - Jan. 15, 2010
The Importance of Your Retriever Being Able to Mark Birds Properly
Just the mention of a South Dakota pheasant hunt is enough to send the mind of a bird hunter racing with thoughts of an almost fantasy-like experience. It can fill an adult with a childlike excitement. Whether you're staying at a family farmhouse or booking a high-end hunting lodge, the anticipation of a great hunt is always the same.
If you're reading this, chances are you're considering or have already booked a hunt with U-Guide. U-Guide offers hunters the opportunity to pursue truly wild birds, creating an experience that many hunters cannot find in their home states.
I had the opportunity to enjoy my own U-Guide experience just before Christmas. It was one of the finest pheasant hunts I have ever experienced. Even after weeks of hunting pressure, the fields still held impressive numbers of birds and plenty of roosters.
Your Dog Is Your Most Important Hunting Partner
When preparing for a hunting trip, many hunters focus on taking time off work, purchasing new boots, or upgrading hunting gear. However, your most important piece of equipment is your dog.
Regardless of breed, every hunting dog should have solid obedience before arriving at camp. A command should not be something the dog follows occasionally—it should be something the dog responds to immediately and consistently.
With multiple hunters shooting and large numbers of birds in the air, situations can quickly become confusing. Dogs should be able to stop, come when called, and heel reliably. A strong heel command is especially useful when moving between hunting locations or setting up for a drive.
Why Marking Is So Important
Flushing breeds such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Spaniels should certainly work on quartering and tracking skills. However, one of the most overlooked training areas among upland hunters is marking.
Marking is a dog's ability to watch a bird fall, remember exactly where it landed, and take the most direct route to the fall area. Whether the bird lands 30 yards away or 300 yards away, the dog should use its eyes first and then rely on its nose to finish the retrieve.
This is far more efficient than having a hunter walk the dog into the area, which can disturb scent and make recovery more difficult. Strong marking skills allow dogs to reach downed birds quickly and improve overall recovery rates.
Unique Challenges of a U-Guide Hunt
A U-Guide hunt differs greatly from many other hunting experiences. The sheer number of birds using the cover on a daily basis creates unique scenting challenges for dogs.
Because bird scent is often everywhere, dogs need to get to the area of the fall as quickly as possible. This is especially true when pursuing crippled birds that can run or hide after being hit.
Dogs with strong marking abilities can identify the correct bird even when multiple birds are flushing or flying at the same time. Getting to the fall area quickly gives them the best chance of successfully recovering the bird.
Building a Better Hunting Dog
One of the most impressive abilities of a well-trained retriever is its capacity to focus on a single falling bird among dozens in the air. A steady dog sitting beside a hunter can be sent on command to retrieve a downed bird while the hunter remains in position.
This allows the hunt to continue smoothly and safely while improving overall efficiency. Strong marking skills are one of the easiest ways to increase your dog's usefulness in the field and help recover more birds.
Great bird hunts are remembered for three things: the number of birds seen, the memorable shots made and missed, and the great retrieves. When you arrive at a U-Guide camp, the birds will be there. Make sure your dog has the skills needed to find the ones you hit.